Dustin Hoffman has blasted the Oscars for their lack of diversity amongst its voters and insisted any pledge to improve the situation is "a little late".

The actor - who was in London on Wednesday night to honour Billy Connolly at the National Television Awards on Wednesday night - spoke to reports and admitted he was glad he didn't get nominated this year.

He said: "I'm delighted to be here tonight to pay tribute to a man whose work I've always admired and whose company I always enjoy. This man has been entertaining the world for 50 years, and that's no accident.

Billy Connelly, winner of the Special Recognition award, speaks next to Dustin Hoffman at the 21st National Television Awards (Image: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

"Audiences return again and again and new generations of admirers come to him because he has the gift of inviting everyone unconditionally into his world and he exposes the truth. He transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

"My friend is an artist in the truest sense of the world. It has been a great honour to count him as a friend."